Vending-machine.



Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

{U1/wanton R. J. MORRISON.

VENDIN G MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED 0011.22, 1907.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'UNITED sTnTEs PATENT ,-OEErcE.

ROBERT J. MORRISON, or cnERRYvILLE, NORTE CAROLINA.V

vENDrNG-Macm.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented' Nov 24, '1190s.'

Application. maa ootober 22, 1cm. semi No. 398,626.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. MoRRIsoN,\

This invention relatesto coin controlled vending machines, and has for its principal object to provide a machine of novel construction that is designed more es ecially. for the vending of postal cards, enve ops, or similar articles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine in which the containing reservoir is pivotally'mounted over a discharge opening, and is arranged to oseillate through lan arc of ninety degrees in order to discharge the successively .lowermost article, the postal cards Aand other articles being piled criss-cross fashion withiny the reservoir.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel-form of reservoir operating mechanism, whereby the reservoir may be connectedto a lever or similar operating member through the medium of an inserted coin or check, provision being made for effecting-the discharge of an article by movement of the lever in either direction.

A still further object of the invention is'I to provide a device of this type in which the interlocking members are provided with two sets of coin slots that are alternately movable into alinement with the. coin chute.

A still further object of the invention is to rovide a means for locking the lever against movement in case a coin is not iuserted.

l With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter ap ear, the invention consists in certain nove features of construction and arran rement of parts, heroinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the forni, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the-spirit or sacrificing any ot' the advantages of the invention.`

In the accompanying drawings :---li`igure l is a sectional elevation of a vendin machine constrhcted in accordance wit the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the vending machine' with some parts broken Fig. 3 is aplan view similar to thato Fig. 2 showing some of the parts in a different phase of operation. Fig. 4 is a perspective ism with the part's separated.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts ings.

The working parts of the machine are inclosed within a suitable casing 10, which preferably includes a number of glass panels, so thatl advertisin or other matter Within the machine may be displayed. Extending horizontally' across the casing is a partition 11 having an Oblong delivery opening 12 through `lwhich the articles`successively fall on to a slideor chute 13 by which they are directed out to a position within reach of the purchaser.

Resting on the partition 11 is an oscillatory reservoir 15, said reservoir being -rectangular in form and provided at each of its corners with vertical filling posts 16, these serving as spacers and uides between the articles to be vended. tended principally for the vending of postalcards, the latter are 4arranged criss-cross fashion within the reservoir, the opposite ends of the lowermostl card resting on the partition 11, and the discharge opening being of such a size that when the reservoir is turned through an arc of ninety degrees the lowerniost card will be brought into alinement with the opening and will fall therethrough on to a dischargle chute, While the next card will be caug t by the partition and will serve as a support for the remainder of the column. The next movement .of the reservoir in the reverse direction will bring this card to the discharge position and the following card will then rest on the partition ll, so that as the reservoi ninety egrees, the cards or other articles will be successively discharged. In some cases it may be desired to dlspense two or three or more articles for a single coin and when this is the' case, the articles are arranged in groups of a corresponding number.

In Order to insure 'the movement of the i lowermost card, the lower ends of the post away and other parts shown in section.'

view of a portion of the operating` mechanthroughout the several figures ofthe drawis oscillated through an arc ofv the machine is in- 16 are' provided with arcuate fingers y20that t are arranged to travel in grooves 2l formed y lingers wil enga 15 to reduce friction between the bottom of the the left, theA movement.. will` be transmitted `coin slots 34 and 35, and below these is a provided -with asuitable operating handle. Thls lever is, also, provided with an-arcuate tively, and all of. the slots extend on lines 1 radiating'fromp'the centerv of -movement of the lever.'

over a plate 38,and during the operation of the machine, theslots 39- and 40 are brought alternately finto, alinement with 'the er face of the partition'. rIlheseA e with the edges of the card or cards an will positively tturn the same into alinement with the discharge opening. I

The reservoir is supported by a strap 25 having upper and lower horizontal arms 26, 27, which are pivotally mounted on pins 28 carried by the top and=bottom ofthe casing andin vertical alinement with theI center of the reservoir. The vertical arm ofthis strap is rigidly secured -to .one side of the reservoir and .forms a carrier therefor in order in the, up

reservoir and the partition.

Inthelowerportion ofthe casing is arra eda standard 26 carrying a vertical stu 27 on which are mounted two loose levers 28. and 29, the lower 'lever .having an arm 30 that is provided with an elongated slot 31 forthe reception of Aa pin 32 that projects from the lower arm of the lreservoir carrier, and byrrwhich movement 'is transmitted to said reservoir. The lever 28 has anv arcuate plate 33 in which are formed two bracket 36 forming a rest over which the slots are alternately ositioned, the bracket forming first a stop or'preventing the passage of a, coin through the slot 34, and then acting in similar manner to prevent the passage of acoin ,through the slot 35.

The upper lever 29 extends out through a slot formed in front'of the casing and is plate 33 havin a pair of coin slots 39 and 40 that aline wit the slots 34 and 35, respec- The coins vlareinserted through aA chute 40 the discharge end-o which is immediately lov'verv endif'o .the chute, so thatthe first coin will enter. the 'slots 39* and34, and thesecond coin the slots 40 and 35.

When a coin khasbeen inserted in the slots 39 and. 345,- the coin falls through `until it rests' on the bracket'36, and the twoplates 38 and 33 are locked together. On manipulating the lever 29, and moving the same to through the plate 28 andthe.. coin to the plate 33,thereby turning the lower lever y28 and transmitting 'movement through the arm 30 and the reservoir carrier to the reservoir, so that the latter will be turned throu h an arcofvninety degrees and will eiect t e discharge of the lowermost card.v

tear/@af the slots will have passed beyond the end of -the'bracket 36 and the coin will fall through the slots and pass to'the bottom of the casing, or `into a suitable receptacle. The parts are now in position for another. operation, and at -thistime the two slots 40 and 35 are in position to-receivea coin' from the chute 40. If a coin is inserted, it rests on the bracket 36 and .locks the two levers together, so that on movement of the main lever to ,the right, motion will be again' transmitted to the reservoir and the latter will be rocked back to the first position, again discharging the lowermost article, while the coin passes beyond the end of the'bracket and falls to the bottom of the receptacle.

The main operating lever is provided-with a pin 43 with which engages a spring 44, said spring being designed to` maintain the lever in either of the two positions to which ,it is `moved. The springwill allow slight movement of the lever from either of these positions, and then if released the spring will turn the lever back to its original position. In order -to prevent any movement of the lever from one position to the other 'without previously inserting a coin, the two ends of the lever 29 are provided with proljecting stops 45 which are arranged to engagea lug 46 projecting from one corner of the reservoir. v 'The' lever may be moved in one direction or theother for a short distance before coming into contact with the stop, but if a coin has not beenv inserted the contact with the stop will prevent any further movement. If, however, a coinhas been inserted, the lug will havecleared the member 45 before the latter moves into engagement therewith.

. I claim l. In a vending machine, a reservoir capable of oscillation about its axis, and an operating nlever therefor capable of alike movement and normally disconnected from but adapted to be operatively connected to the reservoir, said lever having means movable.

.into engagement with the reservoir when the leveris disconnected from the latter to lock said lever at either end of its pathv of oscillation when such movement is not participated' ,inr by the reservoir.

, 2. In a vending machine, a reservoir capable of oscillation about an axis and an operating lever therefor capable of a like movement and normally disconnected from but adapted to be connected to said reservoir for actuating the same, said lever having projecting stops on'each side of its pivot movable into engagement with the reservoir at the beginning of its movement in either direction when such movement is not participated in by the reservoir.

3. In a vendin machine, a casing, a partition arranged t erein, said artition being When the lever movement yis completed,

provided with yan oblong disc arge opening and having a series of arcuate grooves, a bottom discharge reservoir mounted above the opening and arranged to receive articles criss cross fashion, the corners of the reservoir being provided with guiding poststo separate the articles, and lingers depending from such corner` posts and 'arranged to traverse the rooves to thereby' insure engagement wit the lower most articles resting on the partition.

4. In a vending machine, a casing, a horizontal partition arran ed therein and provided with an oblong ischarge opening, an oscillatory reservoir arranged above the partition, a reservoir carrying bar having horizontally disposed. arms, one above the reservoir, and the other below the same, ivotal sup orts for said arms arranged in t e vertica axis of the reservoir, and means for oscillating said support and reservoir carried thereby.l

5. In a zontally disposedpartition arranged therein and provided with an oblon discharge opening, a rectangular, osciatory' reservoir 'mounted above-the opening and arranged t0 ROBERT J. MORRISON.

Witnesses:

Jas. M. WALKER, A. F. MCGARTY.

Vending machine, a casing, a hori- 

